Weekly integrity in sport update from INTERPOL 28 December 2015 - 4 January 2016

First of all, the Integrity in Sport unit wishes you a Happy New Year.

This week, there were not so many articles in the media.

We found an investigation in Sri Lanka regarding match-fixing allegations in Cricket. The two players have been approached directly by a bookie.

In Pakistan, three cricketers convicted of match-fixing are now facing a petition seeking a life-time ban.

CURRENT INVESTIGATION

Sri Lanka

The practice bowler supposedly acted as a bridge between the bookies and the SriLankan duo, Rangana Herath and Kusal Perera.

A practice net bowler has been alleged to be involved in the ongoing match-fixing probe against Kusal Perera and Rangana Herath. Reportedly, both of them were approached by bookies in October to under-perform in the test match against West Indies at Galle and according to speculations, Perera and Herath were offered $10 million to underperform for their team and lose the match.

It is said that the bookies approached the two international players through this net bowler and Sri Lankan Sports Minister, Dayasiri Jayasekera said, “We will make a complain at the FCID (Financial Crime Investigation Division) against him.”

Sri Lanka started this probe when Rangana Herath and Perera complained about bookies approaching them, albeit, Sri Lanka thumped down West Indies in that test match at Galle.

Sports ministry official KDS Ruwanchandra said, “There is some suspicion of a net bowler, who was around for that West Indies series, so the sports ministry has passed the information on to the FCID.”

Sri Lanka cricket reported that both the players reported the approach by a bookie to ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), however, the board has gone in for a domestic investigation right now.

Source: AP, "Sri Lankan authorities to investigate the involvement of a practice bowler in the match-fixing probe", 3 January 2016, Sports Keeda, https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/practice-bowler-lankan-match-fixing-probe

ODDS AND ENDS

Australia

Victoria's gambling regulator banned Tabcorp from taking bets on the recent UFC cage fighting event in Melbourne, amid warnings by law enforcement agencies that the sport was vulnerable to corruption and money laundering by organised criminals.

It was the first time the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation had refused an official request to allow punting on a sports event and delivered a strong rebuke to the UFC, which ranks as one of the world's most valuable and powerful sporting franchises.

A commission spokeswoman confirmed it had prevented Tabcorp from taking bets on any fights at UFC 193 in November, which attracted a record crowd of 56,000 at Etihad Stadium and a massive global television audience.

The event featured the much-anticipated title bout between world champ Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm, which saw Holm cause a stunning upset with a second-round knockout. "In determining the application the VCGLR formed a view that UFC does not have appropriate policies or measures in place as required by Victoria's gambling laws," a spokeswoman said.

Source: AP, "Betting ban on UFC over integrity issues", 3 January 2016, Sidney Morning Herald, https://www.smh.com.au/sport/betting-ban-on-ufc-over-integrity-issues-20151230-glwyer.html

SENTENCES/SANCTIONS

Pakistan

The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday admitted an application for early hearing of a petition seeking lifetime ban on three cricketers convicted of match fixing.

Commentator Ehtashamul Haq, through his counsel Umar Hanif Khichi, has filed a petition in the court seeking a ban on Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Mohammad Amir from playing domestic and international cricket, making Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and its selection committee as respondents.

The petitioners counsel stated that the ‘shameful act’ of the players brought national honour and pride into disrepute and contempt. The influence of powerful office-bearers of the PCB, however, was quite visible as they had kept the detailed inquiry report hidden, he added.

The players were suspended from playing all forms of cricket and jailed for their part in spot-fixing that marred the country’s tour of England in 2010, he maintained.

Later, they were convicted by the English court but would soon be allowed to play domestic and international cricket with connivance of PCB officials, Khichi alleged. In August this year, the ban was lifted by the International Cricket Council and the players are free to return to all forms of cricket from September 2, 2015.

Source: AP, "Ban on guilty trio: Court admits plea for early hearing", 30 December 2015, The Express Tribune, https://tribune.com.pk/story/1018492/ban-on-guilty-trio-court-admits-plea-for-early-hearing/

Tuesday, 05 January 2016